Welcome to 'big hell' or as the Icelanders call it: Stóra Víti. The two heads of Ethereality prove once again they're better than one with three new sonic paintings of dramatically beautiful landscapes. We start off the crater rave in Kerið with its floating chords, delicate-yet-catchy piano hook and the bounciest of basslines. A sweeping vintage synth leads the way on our expedition. Was that an elf? Next we find ourselves on the hot springs mountain that is Hverafjall, where someone seems to have left their hangdrums and horns. Fluttering arpeggios prove a welcome travelling companion to the beefier bass and synth chords, with one of Iceland's famed mythological beasts providing peculiarly pleasant poetry. Before heading home we must check out the sunrise over Bláhylur though. Ethereal soundscapes are sprinkled over its thick bass, with soothing ad libs and string ensembles providing a smooth aesthetic. Like a break in the clouds, a cascading synth arpeggio pierces through, reminiscent of the classics of yesteryear, on a different island far away. But with less puddles.

Stóra Víti

Jakhira & Bjorn Salvador - Bláhylur

Welcome to Fiordland. Our friend lives right on the edge of the eponymous national park in New Zealand, where he's undoubtedly and understandably inspired by the mountains, forests, fiords and sounds. After releases on noteworthy labels like Seven Villas and Nordic Voyage Recordings, he joins forces with Jakhira to show the world the beauty of the Tail End Of The Land. Spirit Of Piopiotahi (that's Māori for Milford Sound, if you're into languages or geography) gets things off to a roaring start with its mesmerising melange of organic instrumentation and sizzling synths. Pretty pianos and soaring strings meet for a treasured tryst, but it's the whispers and the calls of the kea bird that perhaps embody the spirit above all else. In Dusky Waters there's less to hold on to, with a stripped-down approach. But jazzy keys and old skool organs lay a lovely foundation for the tribal percussion and melodic hooks. Fat synth chords join the party, followed by an array of catchy arpeggios and delicate bells. A truly delightful, dusky sound. Closing things off with a more mellow approach, we have Doubtful Tranquility. Warm pads and colourful chords set things up nicely for soothing riffs and melodies. Reminiscently retro stabs add a delightful dollop of melancholy, but the finishing touch is the wonderfully wavering lead synthesizer. You won't want to go back home either.

Tail End Of The Land

Jakhira & Fiordland - Doubtful Tranquility

Our fifth adventure into Ethereality takes us back to ancestral roots, because it's as Irish as Crann Bethadh, the Celtic tree of life in our logo. With pride and pleasure we welcome Richard McMaster from the Emerald Isle, known for releases on Minds Alike, Nordic Voyage Recordings and Canopy Sounds. The trilogy of tracks gets going in leaps and bounds alongside Jakhira with Giant Steps. Resting on a bed of atmospheric pads and felt piano chords, the groovy bassline and angelic cries light the way for stuttering synth plucks. However its the heartfelt string ensembles that really set us sailing on our journey. Next we Trip The Lights Fantastic in an ode to those perfectly-timed flashes of nightlife. Deep rumbling bass and the grandest of pianos shine brightly, accompanied by warm vintage pads, sizzling shakers and catchy congas. But its the pair of lead synths that really take the cake as they flutter and whirl, twist and turn back again. Then we have the Bjorn Salvador remix. Our Nordic brother gives us a deep and thoughtful rendition, with clever use of everything fantastic and trippy from the original. But its all drenched in his special sauce, which offers a completely different, laidback vibe. Theres something in the Éire tonight.

Giant Steps / Trip The Lights Fantastic

Jakhira & Richard McMaster - Giant Steps

Richard McMaster - Trip The Lights Fantastic

The seventh adventure into Ethereality sees Jakhira take us back to the future with two delightful chunks of Cyberpunk. After working together with Bjorn Salvador, Fiordland, Richard McMaster and Kaio Batista on recent releases, we are very happy to get two more productions from his forthcoming album out into the world. The Future Eve is a dark tale that showcases a touch of diversity with its thunderous stabs, rumbling bassline and modulated melodies. Warm pads and slowly evolving strings accompany the astonishing stuttering synth lead as the climax drops into madness. Following up is Escaping Ubiquity with choirs, stabs and arpeggios aplenty. But what really grabs the attention is the stellar impression of a certain Greek god on a particularly legendary synthesizer, sounding like the theme tune of a sci-fi classic that never was.

Cyberpunk

Jakhira - The Future Eve

The tenth trip into Ethereality brings the forces of Jakhira and Fiordland together again with a double addition to their arsenal. This time the dynamic duo offer something dark and philosophical, as they examine what it means to be human. Uncanny Valley gets off to a flying start with its heavy-hitting live percussion and the bendiest of basslines. An eerie sensation is brought forward by deep, chugging stabs and a creepy cello. Warm pads and organic melodics enhance emotions and the distorted drums blur the lines between man and machine further. Replicant is much more mechanical in nature. Steady triplets loop around with robotic precision and the vocal chops are not entirely natural. The rugged bassline is flawlessly filtered and there are some wonderfully wonky pieces of ear candy wobbling around wherever you listen. The mutated modular synth arpeggio is met by calming chords for a short break before being whisked off-world, on an acid trip to the ending.

Uncanny Valley

Jakhira & Fiordland - Uncanny Valley

Jakhira & Fiordland - Replicant

Ethereality rounds off its first year of releases with trip number twelve, a collaboration between driving force Jakhira and label debutant Ben Monday, backed with remixes by Dio S and Northcat. Ben Monday made waves with his track Felt on Nordic Voyage Recordings last year, but perhaps even more so under his other alias White Leaf, with releases on All Day I Dream, Sag & Tre and Amulanga amongst others. The original mix brings together sweeping pads with soothing keys and a scintillating santur to great effect. Subtle synth riffs and a grotesquely groovy bassline provide perfect company for the angelic ad lib vocals that take centre stage. Our two remix artists also appear on the label for the first time. First up is Dio S from Greece, known for his deeper touch which has seen his music released on labels like Seven Villas, Sound Avenue and many more. Warm bass tones and calming chords swirl around the organic percussion with a delightfully delicate bell synth hook providing catchy companionship. Pretty piano chords and subtle stabs add even more depth until the tide comes in. Last but not least is British artist Northcat with quite literally a very different beast. Adding a unique twist, his interpretation transforms Spring Tide into a progressive house dancefloor destroyer. Swapping out the live instrumentation for a flurry of sizzling synths and rumbling bass, it builds to a gargantuan climax and drops harder than a splash down from space. Prepare to get soaked.

Spring Tide

Jakhira & Ben Monday - Spring Tide

Jakhira & Ben Monday - Spring Tide (Dio S Remix)

Jakhira & Ben Monday - Spring Tide (Northcat Remix)

Welcome time travelers. Our thirteenth little adventure into Ethereality is another special one. After the seminal Retrofuturism by Jakhira, but before we unleash another year of future classics, we look back at the past year and present Back To The Future. This compilation is a celebration of where we have been so far, inviting each of the five artists who have provided original and fantastic material to remix each other, leaving the choice of whichever production to reinterpret entirely up to them. First up Fiordland turns The Future Eve into a darker tale with carefully crafted creamy textures and tones. Otherworldly sounds and cinematic drums contribute to a bigger picture. Jakhira takes us to the Aftur again with vintage drum machines and live bass lovingly layered over the beauty of the original parts, which are expertly emphasized for good measure. Spirit Of Piopiotahi emerges in Iceland as Bjorn Salvador puts a twist in the tail. Smooth chords and sultry vocals are teasingly tag-teamed with the harder edged synthesizers, breathing fresh Nordic air into a faraway fjord. Richard McMaster revisits Bláhylur next, armed with retro grooves and glitchy arpeggios. Lush pads and heartfelt pianos provide perfect companionship. Finally Ben Monday finishes off with a deep and percussion-heavy rendition of Kerið in his signature style. And as it echoes away at the end, we have concluded the first chapter of our story. Time flies though and there are new stars and returning heroes lined up and waiting, so buckle up. Although where we're going… we don't need roads.

Back To The Future

Jakhira - The Future Eve (Fiordland Remix)

Bjorn Salvador - Aftur (Jakhira Remix)

Jakhira & Fiordland - Spirit Of Piopiotahi (Bjorn Salvador Remix)

Jakhira & Bjorn Salvador - Bláhylur (Richard McMaster Remix)

Jakhira & Bjorn Salvador - Kerið (Ben Monday Remix)

Our fourteenth voyage into Ethereality brings together the talents of Northcat and Fiordland for an epic double header, backed by imaginative interpretations by Jakhira and Pinkowitz. Northcat offers another piece of progressive power after his recent remix of Spring Tide, as he is joined by melodic techno wizard Fiordland, who is no stranger to the label of course after previous collaborations, original solo material and a spellbinding contribution to Back To The Future. We get things going with Seventeen, driven along by a rumbling and rolling bassline with melancholic melodies perfectly playing off each other. Rattle That Chain falls more within the organic house nomenclature, with its Eastern instrumentation, tribal percussion and charming ethnic chant. The first remix is by Jakhira who uses much of the sonic signature of Seventeen but completely transforms its atmosphere with crunchy breakbeats and an infusion of organic elements, with Balearic guitars and sultry ad libs reminiscing about yesteryear. Newcomer Pinkowitz makes his first appearance on Ethereality with a straightforward dancefloor orientated revision of Rattle That Chain. Gated vocals and lush synth chords add extra weight as the synth bass provides great depth. Looking forward to more from him. Nothing lasts forever so enjoy it while it lasts. Serenity now, insanity later.

Seventeen / Rattle That Chain

Fiordland & Northcat - Seventeen

Fiordland & Northcat - Rattle That Chain

Fiordland & Northcat - Seventeen (Jakhira Remix)

Fiordland & Northcat - Rattle That Chain (Pinkowitz Remix)

Our fifteenth expedition into Ethereality presents the first original material from Jakhira since his debut album Retrofuturism, released back in May. But this time it is About Nothing. Some may argue that Yada Yada Yada is a part of the story not to be overlooked, like the difference between getting a free massage and skipping out on the bill, but it is what it is. Timeless drums and sweetly saturated bass notes thump away majestically as forgotten digital synthesizers firmly nestle their way into the nostalgia. Serenity Now is a very different affair with tranquil textures and panoramic pads providing quintessential quiescence. Layers of lushness flow in and out for the entire duration as various instruments introduce themselves and vanish again in equally fabulous fashion. The additional ambient version strips all the drums and bustling arpeggios from the original to create a superbly soothing effect. We will be back with a bang soon though. Giddy up!

About Nothing

Jakhira - Yada Yada Yada

Jakhira - Serenity Now

Jakhira - Serenity Now (Quiescent Version)

Our sweet sixteenth expedition into Ethereality assembles the aptitudes of Northcat and Jakhira, backed with a neat remix by Tidy Daps. Northcat swiftly follows his fantastic double header with Fiordland with two more chunks of deep delight, accompanied by the ubiquitous Jakhira who now notches off teamwork with five different collaborators on our young label. First we take you to Velunai where live percussion and pretty plucks are met with angelic ad libs and sweet strings. The breakdown offers a chance to catch our breath as a beautiful brass lead brilliantly builds tension to a climax, the cherry on top of an outstanding production. Next we find ourselves with an offering more energetic and Lucid. Arpeggios, pads and stabs run riot as if enchanted by the infectious vocal hook. It is another splendid piece of work by the duo with more coming soon. Polish powerhouses Tidy Daps infuse their take on Velunai with enough oomph and groove to take on the most tenacious of terraces with sunkissed rhythms and slithers of melodies crafting a fine summertime finale.

Velunai / Lucid

Northcat & Jakhira - Velunai

Northcat & Jakhira - Lucid

Northcat & Jakhira - Velunai (Tidy Daps Remix)

The seventeenth adventure into Ethereality finds what was once lost. Twice. Boasting releases on trailblazer imprints including All Day I Dream, The Soundgarden, Where The Heart Is, Amulanga and Sag & Tre, White Leaf gives us Room To Dream. This timeless treasure effortlessly embraces the roots of all house music with filtered funk and vintage vibes freshly picked from his orchard and proving that music is the fruit of life. Next up Jakhira & Bjorn Salvador revisit and revitalize Bláhylur. Everything we love about it is still there with its thick bass, processed pianos and mesmerizing melodies… but at the same time its a whole new world. Up is down, down is up in the backwards bizarro world.

The Lost Tapes

White Leaf - Room To Dream

Jakhira & Bjorn Salvador - Bláhylur (Bizarro Version)

Ethereality turns eighteen with a Tale of Two. Enigmatic duo Kindred Spirits present three fables of yesteryear with diverse but complimentary manners of storytelling. Apologue begins as a tribal adventure with melancholic melodies and polished pads floating above the rumbling bass, uniting to create a dense sonic jungle. A break in the foliage unveils the path to true epicness as gigantic synths lead the way to grandeur. Epilogue is the most intimate tale of the trilogy with ladylike elegance shining through in its pretty pianos and graceful string ensembles. Timeless synth arpeggios, a pristinely reverberated flute, angelic ad libs and even a change in key bring this wonderful exemplum to its conclusion. Echoes Of Yore is a very different beast that hits hard. Hypnotic bass and loopy drums bang away with sporadic infusion of ethnic elements forging a perfect tool for total dancefloor devastation. But is this where our story ends?

Ethereality Recordings

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